Discriminatory advertising in housing is addressed by the Fair Housing Laws; Which statement is correct?

• A. Discriminatory advertising is not allowed.
• B. Discriminatory advertising is allowed if there is no broker.
• C. Discriminatory advertising is permitted in private clubs.
• D. Discriminatory advertising is encouraged.

Answer: (A)

Discriminatory advertising in housing is not allowed under the Fair Housing Act. The law bars any ad that indicates a preference, limitation, or exclusion based on protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status. This means you can’t say “no families,” “Whites only,” or any other wording that favors or excludes people because of those characteristics, whether the listing is placed by a landlord, a property manager, or a real estate agent. The restriction applies regardless of whether a broker is involved, and it applies to all housing ads, not just those in traditional media. The goal is to ensure equal access to housing and prevent bias from influencing housing choices. The other statements don’t fit because the law does not permit discriminatory ads if there’s no broker, does not allow discrimination in private clubs as a loophole for housing ads, and certainly does not encourage discrimination.